Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and a method for an antenna array calibration device and method. The device comprises a radio frequency/optical (RF/optical) data center having at least one optical input/output; N single mode fibers (SMF) each having a proximal end connected to the at least one optical input/output of the RF/optical data center and a distal end, where N is a positive integer; N optical/RF dish calibrators each having an optical input/output connected to the distal end of the at least one SMF input/output; N coaxial transmission lines each having a proximal end connected to one of the RF input/output of the N optical/RF dish calibrators and a distal end; and N dish antennas each connected to the distal end of one of the N coaxial transmission lines.

Abstract: Described embodiments calibrate an array antenna using near-field antenna measurements individually for each antenna element in an antenna under test (AUT). A signal is received at a first AUT antenna element from an antenna probe assembly by transmitting from the antenna probe assembly at each of multiple known probe locations in a near-field of the AUT. A signal is received at each probe location by transmitting from the first antenna element of the AUT to the antenna probe assembly. The received signals are combined into a combined signal for the first antenna element that de-correlates multi-path in the combination result. The combined signal is processed to generate a calibration coefficient for the first AUT antenna element. Remote boundary condition (RBC) testing is performed to reduce temporal instability. The multiple known probe locations lie on one of the following: a planar surface, a cylindrical surface, and a spherical surface.

Abstract: Near field array antenna calibration is performed using multiple probe element locations within the near field of an array antenna for each element of the array.